Dynamics of the medical reform assessments

•According to the research carried out by the Sociological Group "Rating" in May 2017, only 9% of the polled consider that in the last two years the overall quality of state healthcare for the country has improved. At the same time, a half states that the situation has worsened; one-third believes it has remained the same; 11% - has not decided with the answer.

•Among the recent government initiatives on reforming the medical sphere, the respondents tend to support the most the reimbursement of payments for purchasing of medicines by patients suffering from diabetes type 2, asthma and cardiovascular diseases (88%) and the introduction of strict control on public funds used for the construction of the modern diagnosis medical complex for children named Okhmatdyt (80%).

•Nearly two-thirds of the polled support the introduction of reference pricing for medicines, creation of public health centers to prevent diseases and popularize healthy lifestyles, introduction of mandatory health insurance for all citizens, and granting medical subsidies to internally displaced persons from Donbas and Crimea.

•Over a half supports the implementation of standardized protocols using 'evidence based medicine' to treat diseases and the increase of salaries for doctors by 30% due to implementation of contracts with patients. Contracts between doctors and patients guaranteeing medical treatment at annually fixed prices are supported by 41% of the respondents.

•In the last 2 months, the support for almost all the initiatives has increased, except for the introduction of mandatory health insurance, contracts between patients and doctors, and introduction of strict control of public funds.

•90% of the polled support the idea that medical assistance should be provided to all persons regardless of financial status. Nearly 80% support the following ideas: state budget money should ‘follow the patient’ and be paid to doctors and medical facilities based on actual services/treatments provided rather than the size of the hospital and number of beds; donations for medical purposes to third persons/parties should not be taxed. The same number of the polled supports the introduction of a special fund to pay for ATO veterans’ treatment and receiving priority state funding for ATO veterans medical treatment.

•75% support the ideas that donations of public officials to third persons/parties for medical purposes should be disclosed in e-declarations and businesses that pay for employee health insurance should receive a tax credit from the state.

•70% support the thesis that medical treatment costs should be split with the state providing 70% or more and the patient paying 30% or less.

•60% support the idea that hospitals and medical facilities need more local control over decisions affecting healthcare for their patients. A half agrees that the medical professionals should be allowed to work as entrepreneurs in order to pay less tax. 43% support the thesis that the state can decline to pay for medical treatments if persons neglect their health.

•The majority of the polled (77%) support the introduction of a mechanism allowing anybody to personally have his/her medicines tested by a pharmaceutical control screening agency to ensure the quality of the medicine, 9% - do not support, 13% - have not decided. In the West, South, and Center of the country, the idea of the introduction of such a mechanism is supported more as compared to the East.

•A half of the respondents believes that medical professionals who have demanded bribes and have been convicted by a court of law, should be prohibited from working as a medical professional, 15% - should be banned from working in state facilities and be allowed only to work in private facilities, 21% - should pay a fine, 3% believe that there should be no penalty, 11% - have not decided. Among the residents of the South, the number of those who support the prohibition to work as a medical professional is higher as compared to the other regions of the country. Those who have doctors in their families are less likely to support the introduction of medical activities ban for bribes.

•Almost a half of the respondents stated that the Ministry of Healthcare is important for them personally and for their families. 40% said that this authority is of no importance for them. The highest number of those who consider the Ministry as important is recorded in the South, the lowest - in the East. The Ministry is somewhat more important for older respondents as compared to younger.

Respondents: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, region, and place of residence. Total sample: 1200 respondents. Personal formalized interview (face-to-face). The margin of error does not exceed 2,8%. Period of the survey: 29 April – 7 May 2017